Introducing a new puppy to older dog

[DellaMoon]

We currently have a 3 yr old border terrier and in three weeks time we will be bringing home a new puppy. I'm desperate for their relationship to go well from the start so any advice would be very gratefully received! Thank you!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

What sex are the dogs?

I heartily recommend a crate for the pup for safety's sake. I crated my pups for the first few weeks so the dogs could be left in safety in the same room. Allow the adult dog space and time out as puppies can be extremely in your face!

Don't try and force the older dog to be boss: they will sort out their own heirarchy.

 

[DellaMoon]

Thank you! They are both males. We are borrowing a crate and a play pen from a friend so we can separate them.

 

[paisley]

Well, there are much more experienced people but heres what worked for us

A puppy crate definately, and not leaving them together without supervision.

When we brought puppy back, both dogs were taken into the very large garden to meet, lots of room in case of bickering

Big dog always had seperate walks and play time e.g out with a favourite toy, even when puppy was old enough to go for longer walks. Puppy was not allowed on big dogs bed, so he could get some peace and quiet

About three weeks in, big dog got the huff when he realised the new house guest was permanent. We made a space for him under the kitchen table so if he really wanted to hide from the little squit, there was somewhere to go

We didnt have any real scraps, big dog snapped and caught him when the puppy fell on top of him by being clumsy, but other than a bloodshot eye for 24 hrs, no lasting damage. Both dogs get on really well, so we must have done something right!

 

[PolarSkye]

If you can, introduce them on neutral "turf" . . . I took my (then) three-year-old boy Fred to meet 8-week-old Daisy where she was currently living, took him with me to pick her up and took them both for a walk before bringing them home together. They now happily share a (gigantic) crate during the day while we were out and are absolutely the best of friends.

I learned the hard way how not to do this, when we brought Fred (then 10 weeks old) home, our (then) existing dog Tilly (who was about a year old) expressed her extreme displeasure by growling at him (I was carrying him when I walked through the front door of our cottage - a biiiiiig mistake) and then beating the daylights out of him so severely that he wet and poo'd himself.

Good luck with your new pup.

N